State University of New York at Farmingdale
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

FSC has a large horticulture program that utilizes the campus greenhouse, sustainable gardens, and teaching gardens as a living laboratory for almost all classes. For example:

HOR 207 (Landscape Plans I): In fall 2022, the campus Sustainability Manager worked with the Landscape Plans I class to design a new pollination site on campus. The Sustainability Manager gave a presentation regarding her expectations of the site to the class. Students then created individual designs for her to chose from. By designing a designated pollination area, students are able to learn the importance of sustainability in their landscaping designs and planning processes. In addition, all campus users will be able to engage in this area (designed by our students!) to learn about the importance of pollinators and native plants.

FSC's Renewable Energy and Sustainability Center mission is to enhance public awareness of emerging renewable energy resources through a focus on applied research and workforce training in the renewable/sustainable and smart grid technologies. The center is housed in the School of Engineering Technology (SET) and offers complementary training programs in other technology and manufacturing areas to serve the workforce needs of Long Island.

One example of a program is the annual International Energy and Sustainability conference held each year. This includes specialized seminars and workshops offered by Renewable Energy and Sustainability Center to educate the public. The conference is also an opportunity to display Energy and sustainability related projects, research and outreach by our students in Schools of Engineering Technology, Business, Art and sciences and Health sciences. See:
www.farmingdale.edu/academics/centers-institutes/resc/index.shtml.

The RESC also hosts the annual EV Symposium event each fall. This event includes two panels of industry experts that talk about the advantages of going electric as well as the financial incentives available to convert to EV. The Ride n Drive event afterwards is an opportunity for those who are interested in test driving an electric vehicle to do so with a variety of brands/types of vehicles. Both the presentations and ride n drive event are open to the public. This years EV Symposium has over 600+ registrants from all over the region. Students are encouraged to partake in all events alongside the public.

WTT 101 (Introduction to Wind Energy Turbine Technology): Students use our on campus wind turbines to get hands on experience in the energy technology field. They are taught the relationship between renewable energy sources and GHG emission reductions. Outcomes include:
- Explain the principles of a wind turbine system, including general operation and maintenance
- Conduct maintenance routines for mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic components of a wind turbine
- Analyze wind turbine systems to detect and mitigate commonly occurring faults in mechanical and electrical systems

The campus Energy Manager is currently working with NYS on our Clean Energy Master Plan project. As part of this plan, energy audits are being conducted in all campus buildings. Students are encouraged to work with the Energy Manager to conduct these audits to learn more about how our current operations can run with clean energy.

CON 407 (Building Commissioning): A key component of this class is developing an understanding of the relationships between new construction and LEED Building Commissioning Credits. We have numerous LEED certified buildings on campus that can be used as a living laboratory for students to see to what a LEED building looks like. All new construction must meet LEED standards, so there is ample opportunity for students to collaborate on projects with our Capital Projects and Planning Dep't.

The campus Sustainability Manager makes herself available to all classes on campus for tours of our campus sustainability features. A large part of this highlights our LEED certified buildings.

ENV 305 (Renewable Energy Systems I): This course provides an overview of sustainable systems of wind renewable energy. Topics include the assessment of wind resources, wind site assessments, identifying and evaluating factors affecting wind energy development, the basic principles of wind turbines, and the environmental impact of assessment processes for wind developments. On campus wind turbine are used as tools to learn more about this emerging industry.

ENV 306 (Solar Energy): Solar energy and, in particular, photovoltaics (PV) hold promise for an abundant, clean, renewable energy source to address the ever-increasing demands of modern society. This course uses a qualitative approach to provide students with fundamental knowledge in the field, and the necessary skills to communicate with technical experts. Topics covered include solar radiation characteristics, how sunlight is converted to electricity in a solar cell, aspects in PV system design, solar thermal systems, societal impact, policy issues, and economic considerations. This theory course is augmented by hands-on activities, demonstrations, simulations, and simple experiments using photovoltaic solar cells. Students use our campus "Smart Energy House" as an example for how solar energy can be used in a residential house. Tours are given semesterly or by request.

GIS 491 (Senior Seminar in GIS): Previous project topics have included issues such as sustainable development in rural communities, global and regional food and energy distribution, quantifying and analyzing global or regional indicators of environmental and/or societal trends. We have numerous sustainability initiatives in our dining halls that students may use for projects as well as a food pantry. Students are encouraged to look at the campus and/or wider Farmingdale communities to address food issues.

NTR 420 (Community Nutrition): This course provides students with the tools for developing community nutrition interventions. Students will learn about utilizing behavioral theory, conducting needs assessments, writing program objectives, developing intervention strategies, evaluating program implementation and effectiveness, planning a budget, and writing grant proposals. Students pick projects based on personal interest and work as individuals and in small groups. Further course topics include public health initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable intake, obesity prevention, school lunch nutrition, and availability of healthy foods to “at risk” populations. Data for projects can be collected straight from the campus population.

STS 341 (Sustainable Food Systems: Food Literacy): This course is a survey of food systems through historic, geo-political, and socio-economic lenses. A food system is the amalgamation of influencers from five categories: resources, production, processing and distribution, preparation and consumption, and resource recovery/disposal. The course addresses those influencers that are economically viable, socially just, and environmentally sustainable; a food system’s so-called triple-bottom-line. As food literacy is a trending global imperative, the course will address issues surrounding the shaping of food systems on the local, regional, national, and international level. Projects developed from this class can use data collected directly from our on campus dining operations.

HOR 340 (The Sustainable Garden): Students in this course actively use our on campus Sustainable Garden to learn the skills to apply sustainability principles to horticulture. Course description: Healthy sustainable landscapes provide benefits to human functioning, health and well being. But just what is a "healthy landscape?" What are the major tenets of "Sustainability?" What does it mean to "Go Green?" In the Sustainable Garden course we will define, investigate and promote sustainable garden design, land development and management practices. We will investigate how to transform sites with and without buildings utilizing integrated sustainable principles. The course will provide students with tools to address increasingly urgent global concerns such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and resource depletion. It will have value for those who design, construct, operate and maintain landscapes.

HOR 110 (Introduction to Horticulture): FSC's campus features two bioswales that were created and now continuously maintained by horticulture students. Signs indicating what they are and the service they serve will be posted Spring 2023 to educate the broader campus community about the benefits to the environment.

One project for the Office for Sustainability intern is to help create a Green Purchasing Guide for the college. This guide will help employees abide by EO 22 green purchasing specifications.

ENV 303 (Energy Storage and EV): Campus owns three hybrid vehicles which are used by faculty, staff, and students traveling off campus. These vehicles are used by ENV 303 students to analyze the environmental and financial savings gained by the college by going electric.

AET 492 (Special Topics: Electric Vehicle): FSC hosts our annual EV Symposium event each fall. This event includes two panels of industry experts that talk about the advantages of going electric as well as the financial incentives available to convert to EV. The Ride n Drive event afterwards is an opportunity for those who are interested in test driving an electric vehicle to do so with a variety of brands/types of vehicles. Both the presentations and ride n drive event are open to the students. This event allows students to learn more about sustainability in relation to transportation and can use the information for projects related to EV.

BIO 256 (Environmental Sampling and Analysis): In this course laboratory procedures involve the analysis of both chemical and biological parameters, including wastewater analysis, using New York State approved methodology. Vegetative transecting and beach contouring are also be included. Field trips and study are an integral and required part of this course. Campus resources can be used for class projects.

The campus Sustainability Manager hires a sustainability intern each semester. This intern works closely with the Manager on waste management around campus. Projects include an extensive signage campaign, hosting recycling related events, and conducting waste audits. Students are welcome to use any information and/or data collected through the internship for their own academic projects.

The horticulture department students and faculty designed and implemented maintenance free sustainable gardens on campus. The plants used in these gardens are sustained using rain/snow water only.

New hydration stations with filters are installed in all buildings in order to reduce the water waste and encourage the use of reusable water bottles. Signage encouraging the use of reusable water bottles surround these stations, and their locations are also included on our campus map. This data is continuously monitored and analyzed by the Sustainability Manager's intern. Obtaining this information allows the Manager to improve access to portable drinking water for all students.

The campus ground team has limited its irrigation system to just the entrances, sport fields, and select administration buildings. No other areas include unnecessary irrigation.

Small stickers have also been placed in all the campus restrooms' mirrors encouraging people to "think smarter, conserve water." These were placed around campus with the aid of a sustainability intern.

The Tree Campus USA and Bee Campus USA committee has one student representative (Timothy Langone) on its team. This student is directly involved with the development of the campus sustainability goals and plan related to trees and native plants.

Students in the Dental Hygiene program use the campus as a living laboratory through the offering of free teeth cleanings to both campus and surrounding communities members. Students complete the teeth cleaning free of change and also offer advice to patients on the best forms of dental hygiene. These helps the students receive their clinical hours while helping the college reach its equity goals by offering a free health service.

Students in the Nursing program set up a Flu Shot station in the campus center each fall. Students are able to distribute the flu shots to anyone who would like one. This allows the students to use the campus to practice administering shots in a free and accessible way.

Data sources:
Office for Sustainability